NEW DELHI: In a first, Enforcement Directorate has initiated an investigation under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against illegal infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingya in Jharkhand, reported.
The enforcement agency’s ECIR (enforcement case information report) under PMLA is based on an FIR of Ranchi police (registered at Bariyatu PS on June 6) but it will look into the larger conspiracy, including the gains from infiltration being deployed into politics.The decision of the enforcement agency – primarily tasked to administer the anti-money laundering regime and violations of FEMA – coincides with alleged infiltration from Bangladesh emerging as one of the key issues in the campaign for Jharkhand polls.
‘Large syndicate operating across J’khand, WB in illegal infiltration’
Speaking at a Jamshedpur rally in poll-bound Jharkhand on Sunday, PM Modi had blamed the coalition of JMM, Congress and RJD for change of demography in Santhal Parganas and Kolhan by allegedly facilitating infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshis.
Jharkhand police‘s FIR is related to trafficking of six girls from Bangladesh to Jharkhand. The girls, Rohingya and Bangladeshis in their 20s, were nabbed during a raid by police. Subsequent investigation showed they had obtained identity papers and Aadhaar cards in Hindu names based on fake documents arranged by agents from Kolkata.
The agency has already gathered details from other central agencies related to the operation of the syndicate engaged in trafficking Bangladeshis and Rohingya through forests in Jharkhand. A well organised network operating out of Kolkata is engaged in forging documents to help the alleged infiltrators pass themselves off as Indians from Bengal, sources said.
“A large syndicate is operating across Jharkhand and Bengal in illegal infiltration, making fake identity proof, which are criminal activities linked to proceeds of crime under Section 2(1)(u) of PMLA,” a source said, adding it was necessary to investigate illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and the agents facilitating such activities, which are aimed at acquiring proceeds of crime. The agency will conduct an exhaustive money trail probe of the entire trafficking network.
CM Hemant Soren’s assembly constituency, Barhait in Sahibganj, is part of the region where the number of alleged Bangladeshis and Rohingya has increased. Blaming it on vote-bank politics, Modi said, “JMM, Congress and RJD are standing with Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants. They want to create votebanks in the name of religion. We must stop this right away. People of Jharkhand must unite.”
The enforcement agency’s ECIR (enforcement case information report) under PMLA is based on an FIR of Ranchi police (registered at Bariyatu PS on June 6) but it will look into the larger conspiracy, including the gains from infiltration being deployed into politics.The decision of the enforcement agency – primarily tasked to administer the anti-money laundering regime and violations of FEMA – coincides with alleged infiltration from Bangladesh emerging as one of the key issues in the campaign for Jharkhand polls.
‘Large syndicate operating across J’khand, WB in illegal infiltration’
Speaking at a Jamshedpur rally in poll-bound Jharkhand on Sunday, PM Modi had blamed the coalition of JMM, Congress and RJD for change of demography in Santhal Parganas and Kolhan by allegedly facilitating infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshis.
Jharkhand police‘s FIR is related to trafficking of six girls from Bangladesh to Jharkhand. The girls, Rohingya and Bangladeshis in their 20s, were nabbed during a raid by police. Subsequent investigation showed they had obtained identity papers and Aadhaar cards in Hindu names based on fake documents arranged by agents from Kolkata.
The agency has already gathered details from other central agencies related to the operation of the syndicate engaged in trafficking Bangladeshis and Rohingya through forests in Jharkhand. A well organised network operating out of Kolkata is engaged in forging documents to help the alleged infiltrators pass themselves off as Indians from Bengal, sources said.
“A large syndicate is operating across Jharkhand and Bengal in illegal infiltration, making fake identity proof, which are criminal activities linked to proceeds of crime under Section 2(1)(u) of PMLA,” a source said, adding it was necessary to investigate illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and the agents facilitating such activities, which are aimed at acquiring proceeds of crime. The agency will conduct an exhaustive money trail probe of the entire trafficking network.
CM Hemant Soren’s assembly constituency, Barhait in Sahibganj, is part of the region where the number of alleged Bangladeshis and Rohingya has increased. Blaming it on vote-bank politics, Modi said, “JMM, Congress and RJD are standing with Rohingya and Bangladeshi immigrants. They want to create votebanks in the name of religion. We must stop this right away. People of Jharkhand must unite.”
